Known as "downburst" or "straight line" winds, the powerful descending bursts of air are very small scale, which makes them hard to detect on radar, but they can pack winds up to 70, 80 or 90 mph, causing damage very similiar to a small tornado, Overpeck said.

"In fact a lot of people will mistake the damage for a tornado," the meteorologist said.

No injuries were reported and flights were not interrupted, Fernandez said.

Another storm battered neighborhoods near Spring-Cypress about 3 p.m., Overpeck said. Residents reported downed trees and shattered fences. Hooks Airport, a few miles away, recorded one-sixth of an inch of rain.

Overpeck said high temperatures help fuel the storms and more high temperatures and late afternoon thunderstorms are expected today.